Looking for Simple Tech Devices

[lawnerd]

Hi All,

I guess my purpose in asking this is OT. But I think the information will apply to MSer's w/ cognitive problems.

I am looking for sources for purchase of SIMPLE remote controls for the TV & a SIMPLE to use answering machines.

My mother's TV remote died a month or so ago. All of the replacement remotes I can find are designed to control multiple devices. The multi-purposes make the remotes too confusing for folks like my mother to operate. Pressing one wrong button on these things shuts them down. Unless you are able to understand how to undo your mistake & fix the thing & can remember how to fix it, you are out of luck & without a working remote for your TV.

The 1st remote I got her [like one I own & like] had small [rather usual size buttons] & she just could not handle it at all.

Got her a BIG remote, about 5" x 8" with big buttons. Advertised as "hard to lose". Wrote down how to "fix" it if she hits the wrong button. Taped the fix it instructions to the front of her address book. I told the aide on duty [she lives in asst. living facility] what I had done & where instructions were located.

Last wk, Mother told me someone had fixed the remote for her using my directions. Tonite she has called saying nothing works & batteries must be dead [they are 3 weeks old]. . .

Last week her 20 yr old, very simple answering machine died. As my brother said, who is going to be able to teach her to operate a new answering machine???

I think there is really a growing market for simple models of such devices. Is there someone meeting this need? Who is it? Where can you buy such things? Suggestions please!

Thanks in advance for your ideas & suggestions,
lawnerd

[*Joy*]

I dont know if this will help but we bought a simple tv remote control at Best Buy. It's a universal remote made by Philips. The buttons are largish. It does have VCR/DVD buttons at the bottom such as PLAY, PAUSE and STOP that might complicate things. It's simple enough for me to use and I'm 'remote challenged'. :)

My thought on this; maybe you could go to a Best Buy and ask for help. There are so many options with telephone answering machines that I wouldnt even know where to begin.

I hope you find what you're looking for and your Mom is lucky to have you,
Joy

[Jakaloke]

How about this place (http://www.dynamic-living.com/simple_TV_remote.htm). They seem to have a lot of products for special needs.

Scott

[lawnerd]

Joy & Jakaloke,

Thanks so much for the suggestions. Will head to Best Buy 1st & hope for the best. [A place I usually try to avoid, but may come to love if they can solve these problems.]

When you add cataracts & selective dementia issues to tech-phobia, TV watching and answering machine operating in old age sure ain't for sissys!

lawnerd

[Lazarus]

I find myself easily in tune with people much older than me. We have the same problems with devices.

I resent the tiny buttons and complexity that give options I do not want to use` almost as much as I resent sitting inside my house at this moment and not going outside to play in the snow that fell overnight.

My dishwasher and washing machine each have many settings and I use one basic setting almost 100% of the time. Many people are like me. Call us Luddites but I hope my inabilities with modern technology are mostly a choice in some vain attempt to stay conscious of the life that surrounds me.

I wish there were a "GO SIMPLE" movement with legs.

Linda

[Parsi]

Good subject.

I was wishing for a very simple remote recently. My MIL doesn't even turn hers on and off but relies on one of us to do it. Before my FIL died he was always messing up the settings.

My remotes are fairly simple but I always get lost using my son's. On occasion I can't even turn it off properly.

[Cat Dancer]

As for the answering machine: My regular land-line phone company has an answering service..don't ask me how it works...but if I don't answer my phone after 5 rings (and I can set that for more or fewer rings) the phone is answered and a message taken. When I next pick up the phone, if I get a series of short beeps (rather than a dial tone), I know a call has come in that I didn't get. I call a local number, enter a 5-digit code (can be anything), and press one..and get my message. MUCH easier and much simpler than the answering machine I had, and it won't fail because of loss of battereies, or electric power, or any of that. It's pretty cheap, about $5 / month.

[bluesky63]

What I would love is a way to put on a necklace . . . some sort of giant, easy-open clasp that I could actually do myself. I don't think Best Buy has that one. So OK, Jakaloke, find me a link! :-)

[nuthatch]

Hi Bluesky,
Have you tried a magnetic clasp? I have a heck of a time with necklace clasps too. Here's a link, take a look.
http://www.dynamic-living.com/magnetic-clasps.htm

This item looks really useful too. Bracelets are impossible for me to put on . . . I'm all thumbs!
http://www.dynamic-living.com/bracelet-buddy.htm

[renee]

My mother, 80+, is quite smart, but doesn't handle electronics well.
Part of the problem is lack of exposure , fear of failure, poor training and bad accessibilty.
I do not know what the magic combo is.

I hate universal remotes.
The design of some of these babies are so poor- you have to find the top or the bottom first. Keep looking.
Oh yeah. And if she is prone to dropping remotes you have to get used to adjusting the batteries thay slither in the remote,

Simple remotes exist.
I found one that I would whip out and lower volume, change channels or turn off the blather box when the man o' house's tv hypnosis started burning me out.
Ahhhh, silence.

The answering machine. Have you looked at any geezer(sorry) health aid site or catalogues for stripped down devices?

I'm not quite a luddite but I've found my current involvement with technology is happily far behind others.
The result of a 'be here now' attitude.
:D